Learning about Beef Shoulder Clod

[Retired Spook]

I love a nice earthy rub on these too, SPOG until it slurries then a light sprinkle all over with espresso powder. So good.

Of course - so dizzy and salivating I forgot to mention!

 

[Retired Spook]

I should have known better - half way is good enough...

Ordered a CHOICE (I mean like 12-emails back and forth with CHOICE bolded) shoulder clod, and went to pick it up this morning and not only was it a select clod (from an old steer) the cryovac was broken and package was full of air and the inbred dirt bag had the nerve to try to used-car-sales me that Choice vs. Select doesn't matter for slow cooking and offered to put the mess in a larger plastic bag. I got my deposit back and left.

Like I said - I should have known better - I'll order one from New York City and get exactly what I asked for without the excuses...

Pathetic.

 

[Retired Spook]

Well it seems like the choice beef shoulder clod idea is dead - not only are there ridiculously few actual butcher shops left in Austin (Texas, the beef capitol of America, of all places...), the shops that are left have been sold to wokesters that smirk at the wisdom and experience that 50-years of running a business brings to the table, and no one can get a clod except for the shop that tried to bait & switch the select clod on me - also an old shop sold to a former used-car-salesman that thinks talk is a substitute for character and integrity.

Oh well...

Also - I had a few more emails with the great fellow at Kreuz Market in Lockhart and and they use only choice clods for their beef clod offering, and for the briskets they use only select to avoid the wad of fat often found in the point section of choice and prime briskets.

I thought that was interesting and I may have to try a select brisket to smoke one of these days but I have never liked the flat section of any brisket unles cured to become a corned beef, so there's that.

 

[tx smoker]

there ridiculously few actual butcher shops left in Austin

There is a meat market in Taylor that might be able to help you out. It's called the Taylor Meat Company. I've never purchased anything from them but I've heard a lot of folks saying good stuff about them. There is also a place in Georgetown called Bar 3 Ranch. From what I understand they do all of their own meat processing and could possibly offer what you are looking for. Best of luck and don't give up!! It took years for me to locate a source for beef bellies but was well worth the time and wait.

Robert

 

[Dustin Dorsey]

I have had it at Lockhart Smokehouse in Dallas a few times. It's leaner than brisket and they cut it thinner. There's a lot less surface to meat ratio. I like it but I can't say I prefer it to brisket. The clod might be broken down into other cuts these days, or turned into ground meat. Kreuz does cook hot and fast. That's probably why their briskets are way less consistent vs. modern day craft style briskets.

 

[Retired Spook]

There is a meat market in Taylor that might be able to help you out. It's called the Taylor Meat Company. I've never purchased anything from them but I've heard a lot of folks saying good stuff about them. There is also a place in Georgetown called Bar 3 Ranch. From what I understand they do all of their own meat processing and could possibly offer what you are looking for. Best of luck and don't give up!! It took years for me to locate a source for beef bellies but was well worth the time and wait.

Robert

Thank you much, sir - I will surely check them out!

[Edit] Taylor Meat Company only carries select - awaiting email reply from Bar 3 Ranch.

 

[CTXSmokeLover]

You are right, there are surprisingly few butchers in the Austin area. There is a new butcher shop on 620 (opened in the past month or so) called Austin Meat Market, I am pretty certain they have beef clod. I would give them a call. The guy told me all of their beef is sourced out of Bertram. The one time I bought from them I was happy with the price and quality.

 

[Retired Spook]

You are right, there are surprisingly few butchers in the Austin area. There is a new butcher shop on 620 (opened in the past month or so) called Austin Meat Market, I am pretty certain they have beef clod. I would give them a call. The guy told me all of their beef is sourced out of Bertram. The one time I bought from them I was happy with the price and quality.
View attachment 654267

Thank you, sir - I will give them a call!

 

[jcam222]

I have had it at Lockhart Smokehouse in Dallas a few times. It's leaner than brisket and they cut it thinner. There's a lot less surface to meat ratio. I like it but I can't say I prefer it to brisket. The clod might be broken down into other cuts these days, or turned into ground meat. Kreuz does cook hot and fast. That's probably why their briskets are way less consistent vs. modern day craft style briskets.

Interestingly enough much like a brisket one end is leaner and cooks / slices like a flat. The other end makes beautiful pulled and chopped beef like a point.

 

[Dustin Dorsey]

It looks like the clod is where they are getting flat iron steaks and shoulder tenders(or "mock tender") which are getting to be more trendy cuts these days as people look for cheaper steak alternatives. They can probably make more money off those and cutting the shoulder clod heart into various smaller roasts. This might explain why shoulder clods are harder to find. A boutique hipster-y type butcher is going to cut it down for certain.

If I see clod I order it mainly just because of the tradition and older school nature of it. People were barbecuing them before briskets.

 

[zwiller]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Retired Spook]

Interestingly enough much like a brisket one end is leaner and cooks / slices like a flat. The other end makes beautiful pulled and chopped beef like a point. View attachment 654287View attachment 654288

Go ahead, rub it in...

 

[Retired Spook]

A boutique hipster-y type...

Just reading that makes me sick to my stomach.

 

[Retired Spook]

You are right, there are surprisingly few butchers in the Austin area. There is a new butcher shop on 620 (opened in the past month or so) called Austin Meat Market, I am pretty certain they have beef clod. I would give them a call. The guy told me all of their beef is sourced out of Bertram. The one time I bought from them I was happy with the price and quality.
View attachment 654267

AJ, the owner, was the most cordial and accommodating person I have spoken to, in the last 25-years. I believe I am going to go buy something from him based on that fact alone.

 

[Retired Spook]

WOW, WOW, WOW...

The fine gentleman I have been emailing at Kreuz Meats offered to set one aside and sell me a choice shoulder clod if I can get down that way!!!

I am speechless!!! I better check my lottery tickets!!!

 

[Brokenhandle]

Look forward to seeing how you turn out!

Ryan

 

[Retired Spook]

Look forward to seeing how you turn out!

Ryan

I can already tell you how "I" am going to turn out = not so good - but the clod should do much better!

 

[Brokenhandle]

I can already tell you how "I" am going to turn out = not so good - but the clod should do much better!

You know I thought about that when I typed it!

Ryan

 

[Retired Spook]

You know I thought about that when I typed it!

Ryan

Gee, thanks, I think...

 

[CTXSmokeLover]

AJ, the owner, was the most cordial and accommodating person I have spoken to, in the last 25-years. I believe I am going to go buy something from him based on that fact alone.

I had the same experience with him. Genuinely nice guy who really wants to make his customers happy. I bought a picanha from him and the meat quality was great. I'll definitely return at some point, love supporting the local businesses.